Jeanette Schäring´s works of art and materials at the workshop (May 2013). Photo: slow creations |
Jeanette Schäring: shibori (resist-dyeing) at the workshop (May 2013). Photo: slow creations |
Jeanette Schäring´s works of art and materials at the workshop (May 2013). Photo: slow creations |
As many others, I first encountered plant dyeing in the 70s and, for me,
80s. I clearly remember going with my mum to courses and afterwards starting
our own dyeing, boiling plants on the beach at the summerhouse on Gotland. I
remember the plant collecting, the smell from the cooking, the feeling of
community and of course the results (still have some yarns left…).
Since some years now, there is a growing awareness of the dangerous
effects that conventional textile dyeing has on the environment and health of
the textile workers as well as wearers. One response to these facts is to take up natural
dyeing, an usually slow and transformative process.
The methods of natural dyeing has been renewed since the 70s-80s. Many
artists and independent fashion designers (as well as a few highly commercial labels
such as Levi´s Made and Crafted (as far as I can see focusing on indigo)
work with different processes of transforming this aspect of nature
and its mysteries to textiles and clothes.
Usually, rather mild mordants are
being used (in comparison to the earlier often harsh methods of the 70s-80s) and some doesn´t
use them at all, relying on the process itself and also maybe not in need of colour
fastness (for example in some textile art works) – or striving for that (instead
pursuing the process, patina and beauty of “aging” textiles). Sometimes artist
and designers also work with additions as rust (as in rust water or rusty
objects) and other matter such as bicarbonate and sour things such as lemon
juice that change and add to the colour effects.
Rust as dyeing component. From a workshop by Jeanette Schäring. Photo: slow creations |
This post will tell and show a little from that workshop which was intended for students at several Swedish art and crafts institutions (as I´m not such a student I was very happy to be allowed to participate anyway).
Jeanette Schäring´s works of art and pomegranate at the workshop (May 2013). Photo: slow creations |
Jeanette Schäring´s materials at the workshop (May 2013). Photo: slow creations |
One of the stages in my attemps of "plant bundles". Photo: slow creations |
Glass container with onion skins to dye with. Photo: slow creations |
Work-in-progress at the workshop. Photo: slow creations |
Like a birthday party, unpacking our bundles of plants and textiles... Photo: slow creations |
Unpacking my bundle with among others Japanese maple leafs |
My journey continues and some of the results of my work-in-progress and finished pieces can be seen on my Facebook page. Together with my artist and designer friend Agnes Nissen, we have since spring (2013) been evolving a collaboration process. On our journey together we did a small exhibition in June at Agnes´pop-up store SwapShop in Stockholm about natural dyeing in our project called “Kitchen Couture Collab” (Facebook event), a glimpse of our process up until then, a process which hopefully will result in a blog and a bigger exhibition in the future.
Slow fashion (onion skins, Japanese maple leaf, red cabbage on second hand shirt). Dyeing and photo by slow creations |
Kitchen Couture Collab small exhibition (Agnes Nissen and slow creations), June 2013 in Stockholm. Photo: slow creations |